The Knick

S1 E7 Get The Rope

Get The Rope

Thackery dreams about his time working with Dr. Christiansen – specifically an appendectomy procedure he performed in front of the esteemed Dr. William Stewart Halsted. He's woken up by his companion Ling-Ling who informs him that Ping Wu, the owner of the opium den, is choking. Thackery uses an opium pipe to perform an impromptu tracheotomy and saves the man's life.

Officer Phinny Sears attempts to recruit a young black girl to work as a prostitute for Bunky Collier. When the girl's boyfriend shows up, he fights with the undercover policeman, stabbing him in the side. Phinny is brought to the Knick for treatment and a mob of his Irish countrymen gather outside, awaiting news of his condition and thirsty for revenge.

Thackery and the staff do what they can to save Phinny, but it's futile. Phinny's grieving mother addresses the crowd, calling on them to attack every black man in sight. The crowd gladly obliges, beating random black men on the street. When the injured men are brought into the Knick, a rumor circulates that the man who attacked Phinny is inside the hospital. With the assistance of the police, the mob rushes the hospital.

Thackery brings the staff and patients out of harm's way and into the basement, where they discover Algernon's secret clinic. To Barrow and Gallinger's dismay—and Cornelia's delight—Thackery admits to knowing about and even assisting in Algernon's clinic. They move Algernon's patients on foot, rolling gurneys covered in sheets down to the closest Negro clinic. Algernon himself ducks beneath a gurney to stay out of view of the angry mob. When the group arrives, they assist the understaffed clinic in treating the injured.

Rain falls over the city, driving the rioters off the streets. Algernon and Cornelia return to inspect the damage at the Knick and find his clinic was left untouched. Cornelia admires the man Algernon has become and they share a passionate kiss.

Thackery walks Lucy back to her apartment and she invites him inside. As she begins to undress, she turns to Thackery and asks, "Will it hurt?" Thackery responds, "I can make it painless and perfect." He pulls out vials of cocaine and the two have sex.